How to add an object to an existing table?

I have an existing table in ORACLE 8 and would like to make an existing stand-alone stored procedure, load_table(file_name), a method associated with the table. Without bogging you all down with too many details, the stored procedure uses the input parameter to determine how to parse the file for inserting into the table.

Now, I did some prelimionary reading on objects and it appears I would either have to add it to the table as a new data column OR recreate the table as an object and then add the stored procedure as a method.

Is there another way to associate the stored procedure with the table, other than using a package with the table's name? I really hate having this freefloating  stored procedure while other codes are stored in packages and I don't particuarly want to "normalize" load_table(file_name) into seperate versions for each package.

Thanks in advance!
MRW   Received on Thu Nov 18 2004 - 09:06:53 CST